GB2349869A

GB2349869A - Cosmetics container

Info

Publication number: GB2349869A
Application number: GB9910823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Constantine; Margaret Constantine; Helen Ambrosen; Jane Redmond
Original assignee: Lush Ltd
Current assignee: Lush Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-10
Filing date: 1999-05-10
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9910823D0; WO2000067704A3; AU4594500A; WO2000067704A2

Abstract

A container suitable for cosmetics, fragrances and the like is formed of a solid material comprising a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and an acid, preferably citric acid. A solid material comprising a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid will effervesce strongly when immersed in water and dissolve or disperse quickly. The solid material thus readily provides a product such as bath salts or the like. The purchaser therefore receives two products and when the cosmetic or fragrance product or the like has been used, disposal of the container is easy and at the same time useful. Adverse impact on the environment is thus significantly reduced.

Description

1 2349869 CONTAINERS FOR COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE The present

invention relates to containers for cosmetics, fragrances and the like.

Herein the expression "cosmetic(s)" means any preparation(s) for application to the human body for beautifying, preserving, or altering the appearance or for cleansing, colouring, conditioning, or protecting the skin, hair, nails, lips, eyes or teeth. As such the expression encompasses preparations sometimes referred to as toiletries, an example of which is shaving cream.

Herein the expression 'Tragrance(s)" means any preparation(s) containing perfumes or scents, which may be applied to the human body or a carrier material. The expression includes Pot-Pourri and similar such products.

Glass containers have for decades, if not centuries, been easily massproduced and have conventionally been considered ideal for the storage of cosmetic products, fragrances and the like. Ceramics have been used, and are still used, in the same way. Developments in the plastics industry have also provided polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene as packaging materials for cosmetics. Plastics are often produced in the form of trays, bags, bottles and boxes, through thermoforming and injection- or blow-moulding processes. Collapsible plastic tubes are also widely used to hold cosmetics and the like.

Usually, the above mentioned conventional containers are further packaged in cardboard cartons. Cardboard cartons are light in weight, inexpensive and can be easily manufactured, printed, and stored. In particular cardboard cartons meet the conventionally perceived need for ease of labelling.

It is also conventional that the containers and packaging should be designed for ease of use of sophisticated mechanised processes for filling the containers and applying the packaging.

2 Little thought has previously been given to the question of the disposal of the containers after use. However, there is an increasing awareness of environmental issues particularly relating to the disposal of containers.

The present invention has been made against this background.

According to the present invention there is provided a container suitable for cosmetics, fragrances and the like wherein the container is formed of a solid material comprising a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

A solid material comprising a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid will effervesce strongly when immersed in water and dissolve or disperse quickly. Such a material is known for use as bath salts and the like. Such bath salts and the like have been manufactured as products which have been placed in containers and packaging in a conventional manner. In stark contrast, the present invention provides for the product to be used as a container for another, separate product such as a cosmetic or fragrance product. The purchaser thus receives two products and when the cosmetic or fragrance product or the like has been used, disposal of the container is easy and at the same time useful. Adverse impact on the environment is thus significantly reduced. The use of an effervescent material as a container for packaging other products can also mitigate the type of environmental pollution created during the production of conventional packaging materials.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention and shows a rectangular container (1) containing a product (2). A mixture of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid can be used to form a paste which hardens 3 into a solid over a period of a few hours. The paste can readily be moulded into a wide variety of shapes and sizes so as to accommodate the desired cosmetic or fragrance product. Typically, the paste may be moulded into heartshape, square, triangle, oval and oblong container shapes. These containers may be one part open containers, as shown in the accompanying drawing, (beneficial for display of the product in a shop) or may be formed in two or more parts which are held together so as to enclose the cosmetic product or the like. The material of the container is intended to be used as bath salts or the like and the container can, if necessary, be broken with the hands to form smaller pieces for such use. The material can be shaped to provide appealing novelty items.

The mixture of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid can be supplemented, for example by the addition of colouring and/or perfume, so as to increase the appeal thereof both as the material of the container and when dissolved in bath water.

A wide range of cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries and the like can be contained within a container according to the present invention, for example Pot Pourri and soaps. The visual impact of cosmetic products, fragrances and the like in packaging comprising effervescent material is very effective. The striking colours, attractive scents and novelty of the packaging are very appealing and contribute greatly to the ingenuity of this invention.

An example of a suitable material for the container is as follows:

Ingredient %-by weight Bicarbonate of Soda 60-80 Citric Acid 20-35 Colour 0-1 Perfume 0-4 The present invention is not limited to the use of citric acid, other forms of organic acids, and preferably plant acids, being considered equally applicable.

4

Claims

1. A container suitable for cosmetics, fragrances and the like wherein the container is formed of a solid material comprising a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and an acid.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acid is citric acid.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and prepared from a mixture including 60% to 80% by weight of sodium bicarbonate.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim and prepared from a mixture including 20% to 35% by weight of citric acid.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said mixture further includes one or more additives.

6. A container as claimed in claim 7 including a fragrance as an additive.